Labeling-machine.



F. H. HOUSE E'. BIBTZ.

LABELING monmn. APPLICATIOX FILED JLU. 0, 1G07.

- Patented Dec. 15,1908.

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F. H. HOUSE & B. DIETZ, LABELNG MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 9, 1907.

Patented Dec. l5, 1908.

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F. H. HOUSE L E. DIBTZ.

LABBLXNG MACHINE. APPLwATnN FILED JAN.9,1907,

906,631 Patented Dec. 15, 1908 3 SHEETS-SHEL`TS l W l UNITED sierras PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK 1l. HOUSE ANI) ERNEST DIETZ, OI" BUFFALO, NEW YORK; .SAID DIIITZ ASSIUNOR T0 SAID l'lUl'hl.

LABELING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Dec. 15, 1908.

Application filed January 9, 1907. Serial No, 351,421.

To all wlw/n It' may ctmr'rra:

Bc it known that ne, hurlnrltlti( ll.

llousr. and Enxns'r lliri'rz. citizens of thc llnited States, residingr at Bull'alo, in the count)r of Eric and State ol" .\e\r York, have invented a new and useful lmprovement in l,aheling-Machines, of which the following is` a s )critic-ation.

his invention relates more particularly to machines for applying labels to bottles and other articles, and more mrticularly to machines of that type in wliich the labels are stacked or piled in the machine and a label carrier is employed to which paste is ap )lied and which 1s moved against the stac of labels to pick up the toptnost label and is then moved to place the label over the article with its pasted side next thereto, where it is held by a presser while wipers sweep over the surface of the label' and smooth it out evenly on the article to cause it to adhere thereto.

The rimary ob'ccts of the invention are to rot uce a rapi and eflicient machine of sue i construction that it will apply the labels perfectly to bottles or other articles, whether of round or prismutic form, and can be readily adjusted for articles of different sizes and shapes, or to apply the labels in different desired positions on the articles; also to so construct the machine that it can be manufactured at a moderate cost.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of three sheets: Figure l is a central longitndin'nl sectional elevation of a labeling inaehinc embodying the invention, showing one lig. 2 1s a fragmcn position of the` parts. tary similar view thereof, showing a different position of the parts. Fig. 3 is a transverse sec-tional elevation thereof in line #-3, Fig. l. Fig. l is a lragtnentamY transverse sectional elevation, on an enlarged scale, in line 4 4, Fig. l, showing a different position of the parts. Fig. 5 is a plan View of the parts shown in Fig. 4. Figl is a transverse sectional elcvation, on an'cnlargcd scale., of tbe article support., gage and label carrier. Fig. 7 is a detail section of the presser operating device. Figi 8 is a side elevation, on an enlarged scale,l of the label holder. Fig. 9 is an outside elevation of thc presser device and one of th'.l .ripors.

liike letters of reference refer to like parts in Vthe. several ligure A represents the main frame of the inat-hine, whit-h may be of any suitable construction, tht` frame shown consisting?r of a table supported by legs and having support- E ing,r brackets for various parts of the inatline. li, Figs. l, 2 and t3, represents a bottle or article rest or support which preferably conf .sists of a trough-sha ed scat adjustabl)Y sel cured to a.horizontalprod b carried by a vert tical post b which in turn is ad'ustablj secured in a socket on the table. y this construction the seat can be adjusted horizon` tally and vertically to place articles of different sizes and shapes in pro er position relative to the label applying cvices to ,have the labels secured in any desired position thereon. C represents a ga e plate which is adjustably secured to the iorizontal rod of the article rest. The article is placed on the rest with one end against the gage which thus facilitates the proper positloniug .of the articles on the rest. The gage has tapered u per and lower ends and serves to spread t 1e arms of the label carrier, as will be hereinafter explained.

D, Figs. l and 8, re resents a holderbfor a stack or pile of la els. The holder is preferably supported by the bracket o, rising from the table, and consists of a back or base platel d and headed studs or pins d adjustably secured in radiating slots in the base. plate by thumb nuts d or other means, and a follower' late d* having correspondingly arranged s ots through which the studs pass and which has guide rods d5 projeotlng therefrom through guide bearings d in the base plate. Springs d? surrounding the guide rods df between the base and follower t plates press the former plate forwardly or t away from the. latter. i stack of labels 1s plat-ed against the follower between the pins, which are properly adjusted accordmg to the size. and'shape of the labels. The radial slots in the base plate enable the adjustment t of the pins to accommodate a great variety l of sizes and shapes of labels. Ibe stack of l labels is clamped lightl' between the heads l of the pins and the fol ower and is thereby held intact with the topmost or foremost label always in the saine position against the heads of the studs. The labels arc taken from the' stack, one by one, by the label carrier'. As the heads of tin` plus bear on the foremost label. a little force is required l to, pull this from under tbc pin heads which will hold badk the other labels and thus preyent more than one label bein taken from the stack at a time.` Labe holders of other suitable construction could be emplcihyed.

represents the label carrier, or device for carrying the labels from the label holder' tothe article. The carrier is pivotedvconvenientl on a shaft e connecting the sides of the labe holder bracket d to swing back and forth from a position below the article support, as shown in Fi 2, up avainst the stack of labels in the iolder. l'-l`hc carrier is bifurcated or has two arms adapted to pass on op osite sides of the article and its sups port in its swinging movements. Paste is applied to the upper faces of the carrier arms while the carrieris held in its lowest position, shown`in Fig. 2, and the carrier is then swung up to ress the" pasted faces of its arms against t e first label in the stack and returned, bringing wi'th it a label which adheres thereto. As the carrier arms move down on o posite sides kof the article they place the la el thereon, where it is held by a resser device while` the carrier continues own to the, asting position. The carrier arms are pre erabl secured to a connecting piece e by c amping screws passing through slots in the connecting piece, orin any other suitable manner,- enabling the arms lto be adjusted toward and from each other as required for ylabels of different widths. The "arms are also jointed at e and their outer sections are conne ted b a spring e which normally holds he outer sections of the* arms arallel at a distance apart less than the Width of the article t'o be labeled, al'fd with their inner ends against adjustable screws or stops eA on'the inner sections of the arms. When the carrier moves down past the article on the support the outer sections of the arms engage the upper tapered end of the gage plate C, as shown in Fig. 6, and are therebyspread apart far enough to pass on opposite sides o the article. This construction enables the arms to engage and carry a label of less width than the article and to properly place the same on the article also, as at this time the lahcl is held by the presser on the article, the carrier arms wipe across the under lace ol the label and evenly spread the paste thereon. When the arms reach the lower tapered end of the age the outer sec-tions are again drawn bac. to the original parallel relation by the spring e, ready to receive the paste,

The carrier is oscillated by mechanism, which, in the machine illustrated, is constructed as follows: F represents a horizontal cam shaft journaled in suitable bearings on the main frame and prol vided with u camf for operating the carrier. The cam shaft can be riven continuously suitable or intermittently b gear wheels f' a ower-operated rive shaft G, or oy any ot ier usual means, A lever H ivoted on the bracket 71, depending from t ie table is provided at one end with an antifriction roller which is held on the periphery of the cam by a spring h connected to the lever and to the frame, and this lever is connected by a rod or link h to a leg h on the label carrier. The cam is properly shaped to swing the carrier up against the stack of labels, then lower it past the article to'the pasting position, shown in Fig. 2, and hold it there temporarily while the pastiis applied Ytu its arms, which movements are re eated for each label. The carrier could e siinilarly'opcrated by any other suitable mechanism. y

lAnyi fusual (ir suitable means can be imp oye or a in aste to the carrier arms, the followinlgpnireargispbeing shown: I, Figs. 2 and 3, represents a paste pot in which rotates a paste sup ly roller i jurnaled on the pot and driven ly Va belt 'i' connecting pulleys on one of the journals of the paste su ply roller and on the drive shaft. A spreailing roller i* is journaled in the outer sections of teleseopin arms i secured to a rock shaft t" journa. ed in the bearing bracket if. A downward pressure is exerted on the s reading roller by sprin s i, Fig. 4, in the ollow inner sections of t e arms i acting on the outer sections of the arms. A leg t' on the rock shaft is connected to one end of a rod i i provided at its other end with an antifriction roller which is pressed against a cam K on the cam shaft F b a suitable spring k. The rod i is sup orte by a link k pivoted thereto and to t e table. The cam Kis formed and arranged to swing the s reading roller from a position in contact with the supply roller, Where it receives the paste over the arms of the label carrier when the latter is, held stationary in its lowest osition. The springs i acting on the spreading roller hold it down on the supply roller and allow a sufficient extension of the arms carrying the spreading roller to permit the roller to roll a ong the top faces of the label carrier arms, when the spreading roller is advanced so that the paste is spread evenly on the carrier arms.

L L represent the wipers or brushes for sweepin T over the surface of the label while it is hed vby the presser on the article to smooth it out and cause it t-o adhere thereto. The wipers preferably consist of pieces of rubber, telt, or other suitable material secured in clamps on the outer ends of rods l secured to horizontal rock shafts l arranged l at o posite sides of and arallel with the artic e su port and journa ed in the bearing brackets il. The wiper rods are preferably l afljustahly secured by .sci screws, or otherwisc, in sockets on clamp sleeves l which If from l Wipers T arra rods beinga jstable as to/length' and a so i lengthwise on the rock will swee are llul'ustableleriigthwise on the yrock shafts '1% y, e rock sh V,ts'are rocked by suitable to swing the wipers inwardly and downwardly. The following mechanism is hewn for this purpose: Rock arms m secured to the wiper rock' shafts are connected by 112 to levers ms fulcrumed to the de, pending brackets ms on the table and carrylng'antlfriction rollers'which are held against cams M onthe cam shaft F by suitable spingsm arra ed between said levers m Vandthe table. hecams M are arranged and shaped to cause the wipers to'follow the labelcarrier downwardly and sweep over the label/and commence their return or upward movement in advance of the label carrier, the"` wipers being held u in the position 4shown in Fig, 3, while tile label carrier is pressed against the stack of labels and again swung forwardl between the wipers. Other mechanism cou d be empio ed' for operating ed asdescribed. The wi er shafts, and the article rest being, as described, adjustable both vertically and horizontally, the machine can be ad 'usted for applying the labels i different esired positions on articles ift'erii'i materially in size. The adjustabili'ty o these parts also adapts the machine for labeling bottles and articles of square or other prismatic form,

horizonta plane of the wi er rock-shafts, the wipers will swing insnc arcs that their ends will first strike the label on the flat top of the article inwardly from. its edges and laterally outward over the flat top and t en down the sides of lthe article so as to perfecthr smooth out the label on the article. If t e Wipers reciprocatedvertior swung from a center below the level call of tlie article, they would first strike the corners of the article and'would be bent u so as only to sweep downwardly on the sides of the article, which would defeat the proper asting of a label on a flat horizontal surface. Vith the horizontal wiper rock-shafts parallel with the article, it 1s also possible to secure a lurality of wipers or brushes thereon for applying a plurality of labels on different parts of the article.

In the construction described, the label carrier, paste-spreadingroller and wipers`are all pivotally mounted and connected to levers which are actuated by cams. parts can be made and assembled much cheaper than sliding or reciprocating parte", S0 that the cost of manufacturing the machine is greatly reduced.

The presser shownfor holding the label oii the article while the carrier arms are disen gaged therefrom and the wipers are in action is constructed as follows, see Figs. 12, 4, 5 and 9: N and N" represent presser arms for by adjusting the article support to hold the article below the- These rock shafts beside the wiper rod; The arms' normally stand at an angle to each other, one in advance and one in rear of the wiper when the latter is at rest. The rear arm preferabl has a hub. n loose on'the wiper rock sha t, and the' other arm has a hub looseon said hub n of therear arm. The arms have uide openings at the outer ends through which slides a presser rod 'n' curved concentrically with the rock shaft and provided at its end nearest to the article support with a foot n2 suitably shaped to engage and hold the label on the article. A coil spring n surrounding the presser rod between the arms N N forcesthe arms apart respectively against the presser foot n and a collar or stop 'n4 on the presser rod. The advance presser arm N is located to one side of the path of the wiper so that the latter can pass y it, and it as a lateral extension at its outer end to locate its guide o ening opposite that of the rear arm and ho d the presser rod about centrally over the wiper so that it will engage the label centrally. 4A rock arm O fixed to the wiper rock shaft at one end of the hub forthe rear presser carries at its outer end a horizontally-sliding latch or pin p arranged to engage the rear or outer side of a projection Cp on the hub of the rear presser arm towar which itis pressed by a suitable s ring pzsurroundin the latch in, see Fig. 7.

he' end of the lato pin whic engages the projection p is beveled on its rearwardly or outwardly facing side. A s ring p connecting a projection p on the ub of the rear presser arm and the table, serves to retract the resser and hold a stop projection p on the liub of the rear arm against a fixed stop p on the adjacent bearin bracket for the wiper shaft or other suitab e stationary part of the machine. The latch pin has a head at its other end adapted, when it is rocked towardV the article to enter a wedge-shaped fork Q fixed to the adjacent bearing for the wiper shaft. When the wipersliaft isrocked to carry the wiper inwarrl to erforin its function, the rock arm O t irong the latch pin will move the rear presser arm N also and this, through the spring 913, will move the advance presser arm and presser rod until the presser foot engages the label on the artirear presser arm which will be retracted by' its spring p3 and will return the presser rod and advance presser until the presser is arrested by the engagement of its stop lprojection p5 with tlie'lixed Stopp". The presser isc he carrier continues is thus moved to engage the label in advance of the wipers and is retracted quickly so as not to interfere with the return movement of the wiper. When the wiper shaft returnsh the beveled face of the latch pin will engage the rear arm of the presser and will snap in rear thereof ready for the next advance movement Vor' the resser.

The operation o the machine is as follows: Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, paste havin been applied .to the label carrier arms and t ie latter pressed against the stack of labels, and a bottle or article placed on the article support, the label carrier is then lowered by the means described, thereby pulling a label from the stack and placing it against the upper side of the article. The resser and wipers are moved toward the article, the former engaging the label in advance ol the wipers.

its downward moveaging the label which is held on the article y the presser, and the wipers. sweep down over the labelcausin it to adhere firmly to the article. The la el Vcarrier is held stationary below the article While the paste-spreading roller is advanced to apply the paste thereto and retracted by its described operating mechanism. During this time the resser 1s retracted as described and the artic e is removed from the support. The wipers and lablel carrier then commence their upward movement and before they return, another article is placed on the support to receive the next labe The machine can be operated intermittently so as to come to rest after each article is labeled, or continuously at such speed as to enable the articles to be placed on and removed from the support.

We claim as our invention:

1. The combination of an article support, a label holder, an oscillating label carrier, means for ap lying paste thereto, means for holding the lialbel on the article, oscillating wipers pivoted toswing toward and from the article on said support about axes in relatively fixed location at opposite sides of the article sup ort and paralle with the article, substantia y as set forth.

2. The combination of an article support, a label holder opposite to the same, a label carrier which oscillates between said label holder and the article, means for applying paste to said label carrier, oscillating wipers pivoted to swing toward and from the article on said support about axes located at opposite sides of said article support, and a device for holding the label on the article which swings about the same axis as one of said wipers, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of an article sup ort, a label holder opposite to the same, a label carrier which oscillates between said label holder and the article support, means for apment disen l plying paste to said moei carrier, oscillating wipers pivoted to swing toward and from the l article on said sup opposite sides 0 presser for holding the label on the `article which swings in the ,same said wipers, and means for o erating said presser to engage the label in a vance of said wi ers and return in advance of the return of sald wi ers, substantially as set forth.

4. T le combination of an article sup4 which is adjustable vertically, a label ho der, an oscillating label carrier, means for a plying paste thereto, means for holding the abel on the article, oscillating wipers pivoted to swing toward and from the article about relatively lixed axes located at opposite sides of the article support, said wipers being adjustable toward and from their axes, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of an article support which is adiustable horizontally and vertically, a labe holder, an oscillating label carrier, means for applyingbpaste thereto, and means for holding the la el on the article, of rock shafts journaled at op osite sides of said article support arallel w1th the plane of movement of said abel carrier, wipers secured to said Irock shafts and adjustable lengthwise thereof, said wipers bein also adjustable toward and from said roc shafts, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of an article sup ort, a label holder opposite to the same, `a abel carrier which oscillates between said label holder and the article on said support in substantially the longitudinal plane of the article and has spaced arms constructed to spread apart in a direction crosswise of the article, means for spreading said arms, means for applying plaste to said arms, and means 1 for applying t e labels to the article, substantially1 as set forth.

7. The combination of an article sup ort, a label holder opposite to the same, a abel carrier which osclllates between said label ort gaging and spreading direction as one of' holder and the article and has s aced armsl with pivoted sections,' a wedge p ate for en-M said pivoted arm secf' ort about axes located art- 2f said article supportf. 5 1

arms, and means for applymg the labels t' l the article, substantially as set forth. i 8. The combination of an article sup ort, L a label holder, means for carrying the abel from the holder to the artic e, a pivoted wiper, a presser, and mechanism for swinging said presser with said wiper to engage the label and returning the wiper, substantially as set forth. 9. The rombination ol'an article sup ort, a label holder, means for carrying the abel l from the holder to the article, a movable l wiper, a presser having a yielding resser l foot, a releasable latch device movab e with l said wiper and arranged to engage said iso presser to move it with said Wiper, means for operating said latch device to free the presser, und means for retreating the presser in advance of said wi per, su bstuntially as set forth.

10.` The eomhinution with the Inhal-Larry-V ing and applying devices, 0f a label helder comprising a base plate, headed pins adjustable toward and from each other 011 said hase plate, a follower having slots through which said pins pass, said slots allowing the adjustment of said pins on the base plate, und one or more springs for pressing said folle .ver im ward the headed ends of said pins for gripping the labels between the follower und said pin heads. 'itness our hands, this 29th day of December, 1906.

FREDERICK H. HOUSE. ERNEST DIETZ. Witnesses:

C. W. PARKER, E. (I. HARD. 

